Health and Safety Survey finds workers want health and safety legislation overhaul with more emphasis on wellbeing

In March this year Drager surveyed 750 employees and 250 managers at UK organisations employing more than 50 people.  It found 94% of respondents felt the 1974 Health & Safety at Work Act, which is celebrating its 50th year anniversary, should be overhauled, to account for changing workplaces and different working styles.

Here are the other headlines from the research, now in it’s fourth edition:

A greater focus on mental health amongst key factors for rethink. Factors that are important in driving a ‘rethink’ of health and safety in 2024 are the need for greater focus on mental health / wellbeing, more focus on environmental and social governance (ESG), an ageing workforce / later retirement, the potential impact of digital growth, changing expectations of younger employees and more focus on diversity and inclusion.

Workers continue to say that they feel safer at work than in previous years This is largely due to more and better safety training, more focus on mental health & wellbeing and more company spend on workplace safety.

Generational changes affecting safety As experienced workers retire, they are being replaced by a younger workforce with less experience and knowledge, and needing more training within the context of budget cuts and constraints

Workers’ mental health and wellbeing is affected by external pressures and working styles Cost of living pressures continue to affect mental health and wellbeing, in turn impacting sleep, focus, decision making and communication. Different working styles are seen to have different impacts on mental health and wellbeing with hybrid working seen as the most positive.

Innovation remains key. Key future challenges to safety include keeping pace with advances in safety technology such as digitalisation and connectivity, balancing sustainability with safety and diversity and inclusion issues.

To read the report in full click here